wiggin

rob53 said:

dick applebaum said:

How do they sound compared to:

• wired Lightening pods?
• BT wireless Pods?
• wired Lightening headsets?
• BT Wireless headsets?
• anything?

Check out Quartz article: http://qz.com/776240/by-scrapping-your-antiquated-headphones-apple-is-doing-something-extraordinary-for-music/. Discusses all the audio issues with typical phone jack-connected headphones.

"With Lightning or Bluetooth, the audio signal is transferred to our headphones digitally—meaning that the signal isn’t degraded like it is with a traditional 3.5mm jack. Instead, the audio signals are decoded by the digital-analogue converter (DAC) in our headphones, pulling the bits apart and making them into the smooth analogue sound we know.

Simply put, Lightning cables are capable of transferring much more data […] which means higher fidelity audio in your ears."

This is assuming that for the Lightning headphones the DAC is actually in the earpiece. I've not looked into it at all, but I wouldn't be surprised that we find the DAC is actually in the Lightning plug itself. So you've moved the digital signal all of about one inch closer to your ears and the rest is still all that horrible analog stuff they are lamenting.

As for the wireless, what is the codec used? I think I read someplace they are using AAC, but I'm not sure. But wouldn't that mean any audio source that's not AAC (or whatever) needs to first be transcoded from one lossy format to another lossy format before it can be run through the DACs in each earpiece? How is this handled in regular Bluetooth headsets?

I guess bottom line, until people get their hands on these to test them we really aren't going to know.

fallenjt said:

rotateleftbyte said:

nolamacguy said:

zmas said:

Remember when you could charge your phone and listen to music at the same time?

use an adapter (sure to come), or better yet wireless, and quit your bitching. or just live with analog tech for the rest of your life. but GTFO either way. 

The BT Buds don't last very long between charges. That's reserved for the Beats ones at $159 (or more).
I put my phone in my car and charge it from a 12v adapter. The Car really does not handle any phone apart from Windows ones very well w,r,t, accepting calls and using the hands free. So I use a headphone with mic and stop to take calls. The phone is still being charged.

So now it is one thing or the other. In my eyes, this is a huge loss of functionality and ease of use.
Until a dual TB adapter comes out there is no way that I will upgrade my phone.
Sorry Apple you screwed up, big time.

This is a dumbest reason for justifying the use of iPhone: analog headphone port! And Apple don't screw up...maybe only for few of you, not the rest of the world. Remember floppy disk, optical drives in Mac and 30-pin connector in idevices? Whinyass people complained no matter what and Apple still sold millions of them more...

Re: floppy disks and 30-pin connectors...not really that relevant to the concern about the loss of the headphone jack because those things were Apple-specific and the floppies and dock accessories only worked with Apple devices anyway (for the most part). The head phone jack is universal. So now if I own any non-Apple devices (gasp!) I'll need to have two different headphones or headphones and an adapter. Just one example...a lot of cardio equipment in gyms these days have the ability to play TV on built-in screens. The only way to listen to the audio is with a standard audio jack connection.

Yes, I realize that this would not apply to everyone, or even a large minority of folks. But it is a concern. It adds another row of bricks to the wall (of Apple's walled garden). Regardless, this probably won't be an issue for most folks. They will just use whatever comes in the box with their phone, and they wouldn't ever buy anything different anyway. But I think it is going to alienate a good number of people as well which is why I feel it's for the best that Apple at least included the adapter in the box.

sflocal said:

zmas said:

Remember when you could charge your phone and listen to music at the same time?

No, because I never listen to it while it's charging.  It usually means it's plugged in somewhere in my house or office, which also means I'm near my computer (as most would be) so it's irrelevant.

Oh... you're a special person where you plug your phone in and have zero options to be near your computer, or just cannot fathom to be disconnected from your phone for even an hour to get a decent charge that you have a hissy-fit and tech-withdrawals?  So sad to be you.

I don't understand what being near a computer has to do with anything? You do realize that there are other things beside music that make sounds you'd want to be able to hear, including high-battery-draining activities like watching movies or playing games. Sure, if you have a fully changed iPhone or iPad (I assume the headphone jack will be removed from the next iPad updates as well) it probably won't be an issue. But then you need to be constantly topping off your iDevice battery just in case. Just look at the scramble for power outlets at airports to see how hard it is already to keep devices charged up.

Most of the time, sure, no problem. I can get through the day and never have to charge up my iPhone or iPad so using Lightning EarPods wouldn't be an issue. But there are many instances (flying, kids watching videos in the backseat for the long drive to grandma's) where being able to charge and listen at the same time would be very beneficial. 

jasenj1 said:

I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around how Apple can sell a significantly upgraded iPhone with a $160 pair of earbuds for the same price as the previous generation iPhone which came with $29 EarPods. The profit margins on something don't feel quite right.

Because the AirPods are NOT included with iPhones. You get the Lightning connected EarPods in the iPhone box.

nolamacguy said:

yes, bring it! i hate having these sitting on my desktop for conference calls:



...AirPods will be perfect, especially since i often shift from iPhone to iPod to mac, etc..

and maybe a sportier pair for the gym depending on how they hold.

In all the years you've "suffered" using those headphones (which by the looks of the electrical tape on them is many years), did you once consider looking at headphone options other than Apple's? You could have relieved yourself of those wired headphones long ago.